It’s official: No. 7 Kentucky Basketball will face No. 2 Iowa State in the Round of 32 on Sunday after surviving an overtime thriller against Santa Clara, while the Cyclones cruised past Tennessee State 104-78 in the first round.
While the win was a big one for Iowa State, they did receive some bad news with All-American forward Joshua Jefferson. During the game, Jefferson, a 6-foot-9 senior from Las Vegas, injured his left ankle in the opening minutes. The 240-pound forward had to be helped off the court
and later returned on crutches, wearing a boot on his left ankle.
Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said X-rays on Jefferson were negative, confirming he has a sprained ankle, but his status for Sunday’s game against Kentucky is still unknown.
Jefferson has averaged 16.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. He earned Second-Team AP All-American honors and was a standout in the Big 12 Tournament, helping Iowa State defeat Arizona State and Texas Tech before falling to eventual champion Arizona on a buzzer-beater.
Despite the injury, Iowa State remains a team you don’t want to face. The Cyclones are known for their defense but can also score in bunches. While Jefferson’s availability is uncertain, Kentucky knows it will be facing a talented and deep roster regardless.
The early odds suggest as much, as Iowa State opened as a 5.5-point favorite. The line would very likely be even bigger if Jefferson were playing for sure, so this line could indicate that oddsmakers don’t think the star forward will play.
Jefferson’s status could be the story of the game, but Kentucky will still need an A+ effort to take down a great Cyclones team.
